Prepare to be amazed by the talent of two exceptional Queens youth who are all set to grace the stage in TADA! Youth Theater’s “Common Ground” from Apr. 20 through May 11.
The youngsters—Story Handy, 13, from St. Albans, and Mira Meola, 17, from Sunnyside—will perform in the musical at TADA! Youth Theater, located at 15 West 28th St. in Manhattan.
Handy expressed her excitement about performing on stage this month. “It feels great to be in the cast of ‘Common Ground,’ and I’m really excited to appear on stage and showcase all of our hard work and talent. I love sharing new ideas,” she said. Handy will be playing a collection of characters on stage and is excited about the challenge. “I love the challenge. I can relate to this performance because I feel I have many different personalities to bring to my characters while acting, singing and dancing,” she added.
Handy and Meola are part of the TADA! Resident Youth Ensemble, which brings together talented young actors from various backgrounds across New York City. Common Ground is TADA!’s first two-act musical.
The play is a story of two girls from two different worlds who bond through a shared friendship as they navigate life in New York City. Set in 2018, a bright-eyed, 15-year-old immigrant named Ysabella Martinez arrives in New York, ready to conquer the city. She enrolls in an afterschool program where she meets immigrants from all over the world and finds a best friend in NYC native Emma. When ICE detains Ysabella’s family, she realizes her American dream is not what it seems.
TADA! is a Drama Desk award-winning nonprofit youth theater that produces original musicals for children, teens and family audiences. The nonprofit offers a free, year-round, pre-professional training program for the members of the Resident Youth Ensemble of TADA! (RYET). The organization also offers musical theater classes and residencies in NYC schools and community centers.
To purchase tickets, visit the website link at tadatheater.com/current-season.
